Globe



Jan. 14, 1941. I. a. STARWORTHY 2,228,730

Filegl Ju e 22, 19:59

' INVENTOR ATTORNEY .IRVING J. STARWORTH Patented Jan. 14, 1941 UNITED STATES P TENT orriics living I. Stu-worth, New york, N. y. Ap lication June 22, 1939, Serial No. 280,464'

- I This invention relates to the of cartography, and is directed particular-b to a knockdown globe characterized by its accuracy. low cost and ease of assembly. I

' In the manufacture of terrestrial and celestial globes, where an accurate representation of the earth or heavens is desired, it has been conventional practice to prepare a sphere of metal,

wood, plaster, plastic or other base material,

and a skin of paper or parchment, printed flatand then cut to shapes approximating segments of the finished globe. The skin isthen applied to the sphere and secured to it by means of an adhesive. Proper application requires skilled hand labor, so that the cost of globesincreases with the accuracy of the representation and the size of the ball. Once the skin is applied, changes cannot be made except by applying a new vskin. Since changes in the map of the world occur frequently, the market for these expensiveglobes, which cannot be brought up rather limited.

Cheap, inaccurate novelty globes have been made by lithographing metal, then drawlngthe metal into hemispherical shape, and joining the hemispheres. Such globes have been mere caricatures of a reproduction of the earth's surface, since metal does not flow evenlyon adeep draw.

Attempts have also been made to provide sectional globes,-each section comprising a base material and a skin; but these globes are more expensive to make than the conventional globes, and are essentially iustas expensive to change as the map of the world changes. I have devised a globe which is inexpensive to make, which accurately reproduces the earth's surface, which can be assembled and disassembled easily, and which can be readily revised as the appearance of the earth changes. My globe comprises .a plurality of sections, including two end members (preferably comprising polar caps) and connecting side members adapted to :be locked to each other and to the end members, arranged to make a complete sphere when assembled. An essential feature 'of my invention is that the members are made of readily deformable material such as sheet metal or plastic. These members are originally printed flat, and

. are then cut and formed to the necessary shape.

. minimize deformation. The area of any single.

Preferably, the members are of sheet metal, and are rolled in one direction to form a section of a member-represents such a small traction of the to date, is obviously.

, Fig. 1 is an elevation of my improved globe,

assembled and mounted, with a portion cut away members in place. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of members.

Fig. 3 is a members." r v a Fig. 4 is a partial section along the line 4-4 to disclose the-use of the polar axis to lock the perspective view of one of the side of Fig. 'Lshowing the method oi u niting the end I members to the side members.

Fig. 5 is a partial section along. the line 55 of Fig. 1, showing the methoclbf uniting the side members to each'other. Y

Referring to the drawing, my globe comprises a pair of end members ll, preferably correspond ing to all or a. portion of the polar regionsin the case of a terrestrial globe, anda plurality of side members l2. For the sake of convenience, I use twelve of these side members, each corresponding to 30 of longitude of the earths surthat the joints between them'correspond to the prime circles of longitude. Each of the top members has a hole is at the pole, and a plurality'of face between the arctic and antarctic circles, 56

tongues M depending from the base of the mem her, at least equal in number to the number of side members. The side members, have top and bottom flanges it, having slots lS'therein into which the tongues it nt. Flanges ll, having slotsld, are integral with the side members-i2,

as are sets of tongues 89,, corresponding to the .slots 68. A polar axis 25 is provided, larger in diameter than'the holes 13, with reduced extensions 2i fitting through the holes, providing shoulders 22 on which the pole caps may rest.

The extensions have threaded portions '23, for a portion of their length.

In the assemblage of the device, the sideportions are first assembled, as shown in Fig. 5. The

tongues l9, setat an angle of 45 to the tangent at the edge of the side piece, are inserted into the slots i8 on the flanges H, which are also set at an angle of 4 5 to the tangent. The tongues proper fit. If desired, the tongues may be bent back onto the flanges, toloc'k the sections tothen placed on the assemlei in the manner as thus pass into the slots at a angle; insuring lo one of the end.

shown in Fig. 4; the tongues I4, set parallel to the polar axis, are placed into the slot I! in the flanges it, which are. set perpendicular to the axis, to insure a 90 joint. The polar axis is then inserted in one hole I, and the second pole cap is placed on the assembly, with the hole II resting on the shoulder 22, and the tongues M in the proper slots. Nuts 24, threaded. inwardly, are then screwed onto the threaded portions 23 of the extensions 2 I, thus locking the pole caps onto the side members. A resilient meridian 28 is provided with sockets 28 to hold the unthreaded ends of the polar axis extensions II. The globe may be inserted in the meridian by pressing the meridian inwardly at the points corresponding to the equator,-forcing the polar points to spring outwardly enough to allow the polar axis to be placed in proper position to fit into the sockets on release of the pressure. The meridian may then of base 21, inv any deor otherwise printed flat, just as present day volved from .crown to edge.

globe skins are printed. The top members, corresponding to the polar regions, are then drawn to sphere-segment shape. The distortion is not severe, since only about 23 or less of latitude is inv In any case, the deepest draw and greatest distortion occurs at the poles, which are poorly mapped at best. The side members are preferably rolled to the form of a cylinder-segment extending from arctic circle to antartic circle, thus involving little if any distortion, and are then drawn in the opposite direction. Since the total draw is but 15 from crown to each edge, it is obvious that substantially no distortion occurs.

With proper care in the drawing of the metal,

acceptable results may be obtained with as few as three or four side members. As the number I of side members increases, the care required in drawing diminishes. with six or more members, the distortion due to normal drawing operations is notobjectionable; I prefer to use twelve, side members because of ease in assembly.

My device is extremely cheap to make, since no skilled hand labor is involved, and the technique of lithographing, stamping and drawing metal and working plastics is well developed. It is easy to assemble and disassemble; when a change occurs in the map ofthe earth, it can be easily disassembledto remove .an incorrectly mapped member and reassembled with a new member showing the revision. It is thus possible to provide an inexpensive, accurate globe which can be kept up to date at nov great expense.

While I have shown a preferred form of my device, involving the use of sheet metal, other, forms may be substituted. For examples, the

sections may be of deformable sheet plastic, which may be molded after printing, and even heat converted during the molding operation; with such material, the connecting members could be as shown, or they could be flanges which could be clipped together by spring members, or any other suitable fastenings.

My construction may be used for making either terrestrial or celestial globes. The sections those skilled in the art.

Iclaim: v 1. A hollow sectional globe comprising two sphere-segment end-members c thereon, a plurality of sphere-segment sidemembers carrying corresponding indicia and adapted to be joined together with the end-members to'form a globe, the assemblage being held together in a self-supporting structure by fastening means attached to the adjacent edges of said members. v y

2. A hollow sectional globe comprising two sphere-segment end-members carrying indicia thereon, three or more sphere-segment sidearryins indicia members carrying corresponding indicia and 7 adapted to be joined together with the end-members to form a globe, the assemblage being held ing means at their edges for attachment to side-- members, a plurality of sphere-segment sidemembers carrying corresponding; indiciaand adapted to be Joined together with the end-members to form a globe, fastening means on the edges of the side-members to connect. them to each other and to the end-members for holding the assemblage together in a self-supporting structure, a polar axis extending through the holes in the end-members, and locking members on the polar axis to lock the assemblage in 'place.

4. A hollow sectional globe comprising two.

polar end-members carrying indicia thereon and having openings at the poles and fastening means at their edges for attachment to sidemembers, a plurality of sphere-segment side-'- members carrying corresponding indicia and adapted to be joined together with the end-members to form a globe, tongue and slot fastening shoulders bearing against the insides thereof;

threaded extensions passing therethrough, and nuts on the extensions bearing against the outside of the end-members to lock the assemblage in place. j

- 5. The structure of claim 4, in which the sidejmembers are twelve in number.

6. The structure of claim 1, in which the endmembers correspond to the polar regions of the terrestrial globe and carry corresponding indicia, and the side-members correspond to theremainder ofthe terrestrial globe.

7. The method of making a decorated globe from iormable sheet material capable of maintaining its form while supporting more than its own weight after forming, which comprises applying the indicia to be borne by the globe directly onto the sheet, forming the flat material into two end-members and a pluralityof sidemembers through a maximum draw of about 23.

and assembling the members to form a self-sup- P in obe.

- 8. The globe of claim 1 in which the indicia are in relief.

s 1 IRVING J.STA RWORTH. 

